Scranton Breaks Ground For Seminary Near Bethlehem

July 17, 1986|The Morning Call

Within a matter of 30 minutes, Lt. Gov. William W. Scranton went from the political to the religious during his visit yesterday to the Lehigh Valley.

After meeting with reporters in Bethlehem to discuss $28 million in frozen state human service funds, Scranton left for a three-mile trip, which took him north on Linden Street, east on Brodhead Road, and north again on Hecktown Road where he parked his car near the border of Lower Nazareth and Bethlehem townships.

There, in a weed-choked field, Scranton gathered with 30 others to break ground for a new seminary proposed by the Barnabite Fathers, a religious group associated with three local parishes.

It was a first, of sorts, for the 38-year-old politician.

"A lieutenant governor is called upon frequently to cut ribbons, usually for a bridge, a new industrial park, or a small business," Scranton said from beneath a blue-and-yellow-striped tent, which kept a light rain off the crowd.

"I don't hesitate to admit that this is the first time I've broken ground for a new seminary, and I'm very pleased and proud to attend," he said.

Moments later Scranton and the Very Rev. Anthony M. Bianco, who founded the local Barnabite Community in 1971, walked to a patch of ground cleared of weeds, grass and rock. There, each rammed the blade of a silver, red-ribboned shovel into the ground.

But the ground would not be shoveled.

"Wait a minute here," Scranton said.

The two men probed for softer dirt, and found it.

"Now that's real progress," Scranton said as he and Bianco tossed a chunk of ground to the side.

"Breaking ground here is a special event indeed," Scranton said during his brief speech beneath the tent. "They are certainly worthy of the finest recognition that we, the people of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, can give them."

The seminary is planned on 27 acres between Hecktown Road and Route 191. The one-story brick structure, totaling 12,400 square feet, would house bedrooms for 15 seminarians, a community room and dining and recreational facilities, according to the VeryRev. Rich Kammerer, vocation director for the local Barnabites.

Kammerer said other facilities might be added in the future. A fund- raising campaign will be launched to net $1 million for construction and the land purchase, Kammerer said.

The Barnabite Fathers now are based locally at the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Colesville. They minister to more than 5,000 parishioners in the area, and are associated with Assumption Church, St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Bethlehem, and Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bath. In addition, the Barnabites teach at Bethlehem Catholic High School and have served as counselors at Northampton County Prison and as chaplains at Muhlenberg College.

There are more than 500 professed Barnabites worldwide. The order was founded more than 400 years ago, in Milan, Italy, by Saint Anthony Mary Zaccaria, who lived from 1502-1539.

Also attending the groundbreaking yesterday was Betty Fields, mayor of Bath. U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., sent the Barnabites a congratulatory letter, which was read to the crowd.

Kammerer said the Barnabites had looked at 50-60 different sites before deciding on the 27 acres in Bethlehem Township. Township commissioners approved plans for the project earlier this year.

"The Lord just led us to this area and wanted us here for some reason," Kammerer said after the ceremonies. "Why? We'll discover that in the future."